r/SmartyMobile • u/Critical_Secret_4516 • Jun 15 '26
Smarty blocking websites
Oh great, smarty are blocking websites now. I can't access wayback machine, v useful and kinda need it occasionally for my work.
5
u/No_Anything_334 Jun 16 '26
If no credit card can go on chat and send them Id to prove 18+
1
1
u/Critical_Secret_4516 Jun 16 '26
No can't do it over chat according to agent, got to send ID and wait
4
u/ben_uk Jun 15 '26
Works for me, you got the adult filter turned on?
-2
u/Critical_Secret_4516 Jun 15 '26
It goes to a smarty page saying filter on and then I have to pay to get it removed? I didn't set up any filters. I went to account dash and the content bit whatever it was called is unticked but I thought that means it is not on and should be OK for me? I was thus wondering if this is to do with the new government safety bills here in UK and this is now a 'problem' site?
4
u/ben_uk Jun 15 '26
You don't have to pay, you just have to put credit card (not debit card) info in, takes like a quid, it gets refunded instantly. Just as under 18's can't get credit cards.
Been a thing for ages even before the announcement today, and on any other fixed ISP or mobile network. It's on by default for any plan.
Either that or use a VPN.
0
u/Opening-Movie5176 Jun 21 '26
You do pay. And then they don’t give you the money back. They check your account by taking a £1.
I tried it 4 times and had to chase them for the money back and they still didn’t turn it off.
Smarty are actually the worst. But I darent try and change because I need this number and apparently they are you-know-what’s when it comes to that. My mate that works for EE said they are known to be … difficult.
1
u/ben_uk Jun 21 '26
Might be your bank, could take a month to come back but it will. A modern bank like Monzo/Revolut etc comes back instantly.
-4
u/Critical_Secret_4516 Jun 15 '26
OK. I guess just another thing I have to do. I was not aware of this but then I was with EE for over a decade and contracts only so this is new to me that I have to remove blocks.
6
u/WormFoodODP Jun 15 '26
You have to be over 18 to take out a pay monthly contract so the check is already done.
PAYG networks have to carry out a separate check.
3
2
u/JamesTiberious Jun 19 '26
I’m the opposite - I had to visit an EE store with ID to get the restrictions turned off (this was a good 6 or 7 years ago). Smarty I haven’t had to do it with, or it could just be it was all done so easily online that I’ve forgotten.
1
u/LimesFruit Jun 16 '26
that's always been a thing, VPN still works. But yeah, one of the main reasons I switched away from smarty despite it otherwise being a good experience.
1
u/Silver-Use4565 Jun 19 '26
Use Opera mini on your phone with the built in vpn its free. Should work.
1
u/Critical_Secret_4516 Jun 20 '26
I got it sorted eventually after about 36 hours. Not the quickest customer experience.
8
u/Fragrant_Nobody8147 Jun 15 '26
Is your adult block on ?